Steam-boiler feeder



No. 6l 3,40'4. A Patented Nov. I, |898. T. J. WHITNEY.

STEAM BOILEH FEEDER. (Application led Dec. 6, 1897.)

| l l l l l l l x l l (No Model.)

n P INVENT mM/M WITNESSESI Q O/ci), ATTORNEYS.

NITED STATES PATENT Uniden.

TIIOMAS J. VHITNEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

sTEAM-BolLER FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,404, dated November 1, 1898.

Application filed December 6, 1897. Serial No. 660,831. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom, it' may concern:

Be it known that l, THOMAS J. WHITNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Boiler Feeders, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists `of an improved construction of boiler-feeder in which I employ a supplemental boiler or tank, in combination with a main steam-boiler, said supplemental boiler being elevated above the highest level of the water in the steam-boiler and said boilers having conduits or connections, with a suitable valve or valves interposed therebetween, whereby there will be a constant flow from the supplemental to the main boiler at the proper periods, provision being thus made for enabling the water in the supplemental tank, by reason of its specific grav= ity, to pass to the main steam-boiler under pressure without any mechanical manipulation other than the proper movement being imparted to the controlling valve or valves, means being also provided for heating the Water in said supplemental boiler.

It further consists of a novel construction of cock or valve employed,which has its channels 0r passages therein so constructed that the steam-pressure from the main boiler will be first permitted to pass through the valve to the supplemental boiler, said steam-pressure being the last to be turned off, whereby Water is prevented from rising from the main boiler, thus avoiding any necessity for the use of a check-valve.

It also consists of a novel arrangement of pipes and their adj uncts common to the main and supplemental boilers.

It further consists of novel details of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims. v Y

Figure l represents a side elevation of a steamboiler feeder and its adjuncts embodying my invention, certain portions being shown in section. Figs. 2 and 3 represent longitudinal vertical sections of a Valve or cock employed, showing the relative position of the pipes or conduits controlled thereby. Fig. 4 represents a vertical section through the casing of the valve, showing the valve-plug partly in section and partly in elevation. Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of a detached apertured or perforated pipe or tube' for introducing Water or steam into.

Vvalve-plu g E is in the position seen in Fig. 3

will permit the passage of iluid through the port G, and thence to the pipe or conduit H, which. leads into the discharge-pipe J, the latter having a threaded portion K, which is screwed or otherwise secured in the upper port-ion of the supplemental tank or boiler L,

Vwhile the lower portion of said pipe or'terminal J is provided with the openings or perforations' M, whereby the feed -water and steam are sprayed into said supplemental boiler, the latter being sustained upon any suitable framework or support N at a lpoint above the highest water-level of the main steam-boiler U, hereinafter referred to.

P designates a tube leading from the lower portion of the supplemental boiler L to the port Q of the valve-casing C and discharging the fluid, when the valve-plug E is in the position indicated in Fig. 2, through the passage or port R thereof, and thence through the port S into the pipe T and to the lower portion of the boiler U, which may be of any suitable or desired construction and provided with the fire-doors, ash-pit, blow-off, gage-cocks, and other usual appurtenances.

The steam generated in the boiler may be conveyed therefrom, by means of the main steam-pipe V, to any suitable point, while a portion of said steam is conveyed through the pipe W to the portX of the casing C, and thence by reason of the passage F in the valveplug E, when the latter is in the position in- SoA ICO

dicated in Fig. 2, to the port G, and thence to the pipe H, which leads to the supplemental boiler L, as stated.

Y designates a handle attached to the valveplug E and adapted to move between the stops Z, which limit the movement of said valve and causes the same to be retained in either of the extreme positions seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the preferred form of my invention I construct the valve-plug E so that the port X will be open to steam-pressure slightly before the port Q, as indicated in Fig. 6, whereby steam will be iirst turned on and last turned off, so as to prevent the water from rising from the main boiler, thereby avoiding any necessity for the use of check-valves.

A designates a pipe leading from the pipe IV, which communicates with the steam-space of the boilerU, said pipe A leading, by means of suitable connections, to the coupling B', which is connected to a tube C', which latter extends through the supplemental boiler L and is provided with the cap or plug D, whereby steam can be introduced into said supplemental boiler, and the water therein is consequently heated, it being of course evident that, if desired, I may introduce steam from the exhaust of an engine or other source of supply into the pipe C', whereby the water in the supplemental boiler will be effectually heated, or said boiler may be heated by other means.

The operation is as follows: The valve-plug E having been lirst set in the position indicated in Fig. 3 and water having been introduced under pressure into the pipe A, the same will pass through the ports D Gand the passage F into the pipe H and will thence be sprayed into the upper portion of the supplemental boiler L, it being noted that the ports X and Q of the valve-casing are now closed. IVhen the supplemental boiler has been filled to the desired extent, the valveE is turned into the position indicated in Fig. 2, so that the ports Q and S are in communication by reason of the location of the passage R, and water from the supplemental boiler L will be conveyed by the pipe P and will flow through said ports and passage into the pipe T, and thence into the lower portion of the boiler, it being of course understood that the steam-pressure in the upperportion of the boiler will be conveyed through the pipe IV and the ports X G and passage F to the pipe H in the manner indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, it being seen that said pipe H serves alternately as a conduit for the water and steam, according to the position in which the valve-plug E is placed, and that by reason of the equilibrium of pressure when the parts are in the position seenin Fig. 2 the water will readily and freely iiow from the supplemental to the main boiler. IVhen the supplemental boiler L is nearly empty, the same will be full of steam, as is evident, and upon turning the valve into the position seen in Fig. 3 again the incoming water, meeting the steam in the pipe H and boiler L,Will condense the latter, thereby forming a vacuum, and thus creating a suction in the pipe A, as is evident.

It is evident that changes in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to the exact construction herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a steam-boiler feeder, the combination of a main steam-boiler, a supplemental boiler located above the water-level of said first-mentioned boiler, pipes common to said boilers and a valve located intermediate of said pipes and having a port at all times in communication with the pipe through which steam and water Iiow to the supplemental boiler for permitting steam-pressure from the main boiler to be introduced into said supplemental boiler and for allowing water to flow through the same pipe to the supplem ental boiler, and for permitting a communication to be made from said supplemental boiler to the Water-space of said steam-boiler.

2. In a steam-boiler feeder, the combination of a main boiler, a supplemental boiler located above the water-level of said main boiler, a valve-casing having therein the ports D, Q, S, X and G, a valve-plug E having the passages F and R therein, the former at all timesin communication with the pipe H,pipes H and P common to said valve-casing and supplemental boiler, pipes W and 'Il common to said main boiler and valve-casing, and an inlet-pipe for the latter connected therewith so as to introduce water to the supplemental boiler through said pipe H.

3. In a steam -boiler feeder, the combination of a main boiler, a supplemental boiler supported at a point above the level of said main boiler, a valve casing having therein the ports X, S, Q, D and G, a communication from said port X to the steam-space of the main boiler, a communication from the port S to the Water-space of said boiler, a communication from the port G to the upper portion of said supplemental boiler, a communication from said port Q to the lower portion of said supplemental boiler and means for enabling said port X to be initially opened to permit the passage of steam from the main boiler to the supplemental boiler, so as to prevent Water from rising from the main boiler, thereby avoiding the necessity of the use of a check-valve.

4. In a steam-boiler feeder, a main boiler, asupplemental boiler-located above the same, pipes common to said boilers, avalve consisting of a casing having therein the ports D, Q, S, X and G, a valve-plug controlling said ports,said valve-plu g being provided with oppositely-located passages F and R therein, the

IOS

latter at all times in communication with the pipethrough which steam and Water flow to the supplemental boiler, a handle on said valve and stops for limiting the extent of movement of said handle and a pipe connected with said casing serving to permit of the introduction of steam from the main boiler or Water from a source of supply to a supplemental boiler.

5. In a steam-boiler feeder, a main steamboiler, a supplemental boiler located above the same, pipes connecting the steam and Water spaces of said boilers and a valve common to said pipes, one of the latter serving both for the introduction of steam from the main boiler to the supplemental boiler, and as a conduit for Water from a source of supply to the supplemental boiler.

6. In a steam-boiler feeder, a main steamboiler, a supplemental boiler located above the same, pipes conn ecting the steam and Water spaces of said boilers, a valve common to said pipes, one of the latter serving both for the introduction of steam from the main boiler to the supplemental boiler, and as a conduit for Water from a source of supply to the supplemental boiler, said Valve having a port passage of steam from the main boiler to the t supplemental boiler, so as to prevent Water from rising from the main boiler, thereby avoiding the necessity for the use of a checkvalve.

THOS. J. WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

E. I-IAYWARD FAIRBANKS, WM. C. WIEDERSHEIM. 

